Otjiwarongo means 'Pleasant Place' or 'Place Where Fat Cattle Graze. It is an agricultural and ranching area 250km north of Windhoek on a slope amid undulating plains. It has got mountainous rocks rising. It was a dinosaur country which left a legacy of several three-toed footprints.
An interesting feature in the town is the Otjiwarongo Crocodile Ranch, where crocodiles are bred.
Otjiwarongo Accommodation
There is plenty of
accommodation in Otjiwarongo, such as the extensive Mount Etjo Safari Lodge and Otjiwa Game Ranch, both popular overnight stops and Okonjima, home of the AfriCat Foundation, which offers 10 en-suite double rooms at the main camp and eight African chalets at the Bush Camp. Camp Dinosaur, south of Otjiwarongo and accessible from the road to Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, is equipped for self-caterers and offers 10 camping sites.
Aloegrove Guest Farm
• Aloegrove is built on top of a hill with a 360 degree view.
• For Nature lovers and photographers there are our extensive savannahs, home to kudu, red hartebeest, eland, giraffe, oryx, steenbok, springbok, mountain zebra, impala, dik-dik and warthog and a multitude of bird species.
• Facilities include swimming pool,photography paradise
• Lux. en-suite bungalows; superb cuisine; pool; game viewing; big cats feeds; hiking.
Okonjima
• Okonjima is so much more than just a luxury lodge.
• Guests are given the opportunity of tracking cheetahs by foot or visiting the Cheetah Project. Wild leopards are lured to feeding-tables every night, giving all our guests a chance to watch these magnificent predators from the safety of a hide.
• 10 luxury en-suite double rooms,8 thatched African chalets
Otjibamba Lodge
• Affordable Lodge; nice chalets with aircon and TV, good restaurant, pool. Gamepark
Mount Etjo Safari Lodge
• in the Okonjati game reserve, nice suites; jacuzzi, pool; elefants. lions; game feeding
Getting to Otjiwarongo
Unlike other countries, Namibia has few cheap local buses that are useful for travellers. Small Volkswagen combis (minibuses) do ferry people between towns, providing a good fast service
Intercape Mainliner operates luxury vehicles on long-distance routes. These are comfortable, with refreshments available, music, videos, toilets and air conditioning. There is also a lodge shuttle.
Activities in Otjiwarongo
The Crocodile Farm lies on the eastern outskirts, in Zingel Street. There is also a camping ground.
There is an excellent craft market not far from the station which sells mostly wooden carved bowls, spoons, ornaments and animals.
Cheetah Conservation Fund. The Cheetah Centre lies about 45 kilometres south-east of Otjiwarongo. You can access it via the D2440.
AfriCat Foundation on the farm Okonjima is dedicated to the protection of the big cats in their natural environment. Farm and lodge lie 47 km south of Otjiwarongo
Dining in Otjiwarongo
Bäckerei Café Carstens. Georges Street, in the centre of town. offers Traditional German dishes for lunch. Excellent and inexpensive. And the best German cheesecake in Namibia!
Kameldorn Garten. Hindenburg Street, diagonally opposite Shell garage. Popular beer garden and bistro with snacks and light dishes.
Weather
November – April is summer and days are generally hot and sunny. Daytime temperatures can rise to 35ºC and night temperatures drop to around 14ºC - 18ºC. The rainy season runs from February to March and average rainfall varies from less than 50mm along the coast to 350mm in the central region and 700mm in the far north-eastern region.
May - October, days are dry, sunny and mild to warm while evening temperatures drop sharply. Daytime temperatures generally reach 23ºC and can drop to as low as 0ºC - 10ºC at night.
